The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-08-10
A SCHOLARLY SCAMP.
Hsrvsy's Political Views-Tha tx-CIerk q
Blaine Nan.
How mr.. Austin III. Brown, an Indiana
Democrat, Detected Hts RascAlly
Operations IN Washington.
Washington Special to Baltimore SUM-

cial convicted and sentenced for forgery OF
horse claims, will leave for Albany, N. Y,
next week, where he is to remain in the
Ienitentiary for twelve years. The magni-
tude and character of the frauds perpe-
tIated by this accomplished scholar and
esthetic gentleman are but little understood
by the public. With the exception of a
few cases only, sill of these claims w,re
founded upon forged papers placed on file
in 1886 and 1887, but bearing imitation
date stamps of December, 1888, and Jznu-
airy, 1884. thus giving them the semblance
of fling within the time fixed by statute
of Limitation. At the time of actual fling
they were barred and worthless.
The imaginary claimants were
made TO assume legal status
by an ingenious method. The
foTger evidently obtained copies of the
published official records OF Pennsylvania
and New Jersey organizations. These gave
the military history of their officers, with
notations OF the engagements IN which
they participated. Finding that certain
field officers were In the same action, one
of these was made a claimant. and two
Others his witnesses of the imaginary loss
of a horse "killed in battle" These wit
nesses in turn became applicants, and the
etheTs testified in their cases. Thus testi-
moDy was fabricated that many horses
were "shct from under" their riders,
officer made claim for at least two horses
at 800 each. In this manner Harvey
would take up regiment after regiment
and fabTicate all the claims possible. When
fields officers were exhausted he took up
cavalry regiments and worked up claims
for company officers in like manner.
With all his skill, however, he made
some mistakes. Many of these officers now
known to be dead were made to appear on
of,-,, - =
sworn TO and signed atidaYita long after
death. General William McCandless, a
noted Pennsylvania politician who had
been dead over four years, and General
James 81. McCaoe, we'll known in New
YORK, and who deceased about year ago
were among those bTouget to life by Har
vey to aid him in his populations.
Chief Brooks, of the secret service bureau,
found in desk in HarVey's house all the
necessary appliances for forgery, including
many different colored inks and kinds OF
pens, appliances IN blank prepared by hec
tograpnie process, rubber stamps used to
mark and ante6ate papers filed ia the Off
ces of the second and third auditor and
Quertermaster general, seals of various i'm
aginsIy notaries public, forged certificates
from the second auditor verifying signg-
lures. which Harvey bad filed and then s5-
stTaeted from the papers after allowance,
etc. He also found letter-heads of w. w.
Wynn, the double of Harvey, who came
upon the stage eighteen months ago as a
claim attorney. In his private safe we're
found many books and papers throwing
light upon mis- methods.
Some Washington correspondents Of Re-
publican papers have endeavored to break
the force of the discovery of these forger-
les and 10 weaken the point made that
Democratic administration could and
would punish its own officers when caught
in wroDg-doipg by declaring that the ais
covely of these frauds was first made by
an old clerk, who is a Republican, and
that it was he who first called the atten-
tion of the present chief of division to the
fraud.
Austin II. Brown, Harvey's successor,
when asked by The Sun correspondent If
there was any truth in the statement, said:
''As to the honor of this discovery l make
no particular claim. / am not troubled in
mind as to what has been said about it
TO belittle my efforts TO bring Harvey to
Justice. l know that the second and third
auditors, the chief OF the secret service and
the Secretary Of the Treasury are well
acquainted with the facts and know who
rendered the service. l did my whole duty,
and with no malice towards Harvey. In
fact it was several days before any suspicion
was had that be was the guilty party. On
the fifth day after Invent on duty [ noticed
peculiarities and appearances OF too much
care in the preparation Of the Wynn claims
cases. Being a green hand engaged IN
learning my business, / became quite
critical in examinations. l had laid aside
few marked cases Of peculiar signatures,
with the intention OF visiting Offices where
rolls containing genuine signatures were
kept, and then making comparison. While
thus engaged | came upon paper signed
by a name different from the one given in
the body OF the paper. Mr.. Wynn had
made mistake. called the clerk up who
had passed the claim and exhibited the
papers to him. He has since voluntarily
given me written statement, from which
/ quote: Mr.. Brown sent for me and
called my attention to the discrepancy
! then informed Mr.. Brown that the mat
ter discovered by him had escaped my no.
tice, owing to the fact that had been bur-
Iied in the adjustment of a large number
OF similar clalms-n0t by the auditor, but
by M Harvey while he had been chief of
the division. This Circumstance, 1 be-
heve, led Mr., Brown to commence an in
vestigation, which resulted in finding that
the claim referred to and large numb Der
of others we're fraudulent, and filed by
Oscar ]. Harvey under the assumed name
of w. W. Wynn. 1 am not conscious that
i am entitled to any credit for the dis
coveIy made by Mr.. Brown"
TIE public has had some intimation as
to the influences which secured Harvey s
appointment over the protest OF Governor
Curtin. These were not political, but were
social, old college and fraudulent society
influences altogether. He made no pre-
tense 70 ever having been Democrat or a
MUgwump. 1t is now known that he was
blatant Republican. Among the papers
found In his desk at his residence was a
manuscript copy of Blaine and Logan
speech in the handwriting of and on the
last page bearing the signature of Oscar j.
Harvey, with this note: "8 $3.50 D. M, Sun
day, 2Sth September, 1884, Wilkesbarre,
Pa" On the first page are pasted pictures
of Blaine and Logan. Whether the speech
was ever delivered is not known. but the
following extracts from il will convince
the reader that ofsall the claims fabricated
by Oscar j. Harvey. that by which he OBJ
tanned 81, 600 Office under Democratic
administration is the most fraudulent one:
Let the Democrats make as much noise
and display as they like. Big banners and
bigger bands make no votes. Fortunately
the Republican .party.ha as its national
standard-bearers in this fight men whose
selection was no occident. Never since
remember, never since you remember, did
great party present so grand ticket a
was presented In Chicago last June for the
suffrage of the American people. Never
A ticket with no tail. a ticket With a hear